Improvement in machines for carbureting air



J. H. VAN HOUTEN. I Machine for Carburetting Air.

No. 135,020, PatentedJan-2L1873p WITNESSES? INVENTORI AM. PHOTU-U'THOGRAPHIC 00 N. Y(US50RNEFROCESS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMEs H. vAN-noUTEN, 0F NEWARK, N J., ASSIGNOR To SAMUEL T. TATE, or BROOKLYN, N. Y., AND EDWIN F. vAN HOUTEN, 0F NEWARK, N. J.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CARBURET ING AIR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,020, dated January 21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMEs H. VAN HOUTEN,

of Newark, county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in ,Machines for (Jarbureting Air; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon and forming part of this specification.

Figure l is view in section and elevation of the machine.

My, improvements consist, first, in the construction and arrangement of an automatic feed or supply, by which I am enabled to secure a supply of oil or gasoline from the reservoir or tank A to the cylinder B, in which the gas is generated as fast as it is consumed, and no faster; second, in the manner in which the wheel 0, which carburets the air and forces it into the distributing-pipes for consumption, is constructed, arranged, and adjusted in the cylinder B; third, in the air-inducting pipe D; fourth, in the metallic forms or supports Kin each end of the cylinder B, all of which will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The automatic feed consists, first, in a pipe, a, connecting with the bottom of the reservoir A and the float-chamber E, through which the gasoline flows into the cylinder B, said chamber E and cylinder B being connected by pipes a and c. The pipe-a has a valve, b, which may be closed when it is desirable to stop the flow of gasoline into the cylinder B. There is, also, a vent-pipe, 0, connecting with the top of the reservoir A and the said chamber E. Second, in the devices to regulate and control the supply of gasoline, which are as follows, viz: It is requisite that the gasoline in the cylinder B should be kept at a given point, viz., about the center or half full. To accomplish this result the feed-pipe a extends down into the chamber E an inch, more or less, below the point to which the gasoline rises. A suitable valve, d, is arranged in-the bottom of said pipe and secured to a float, F, through which the pipe or passes. This float, which controls the valve d, is so arranged and adjusted that the valve is always open until the gasoline, rises high enough in the cylinder B to raise the float, and thus close the valve and stop the flow. In orotherwise interfere with or obstruct the operation of the valve d. The bottom end of the pipe ais bushed with glass or porcelain or other non-metallic substance, in and against which I the valve is fitted and works. This is to prevent the valve from becoming obstructed by corrosion. The wheel 0 is made in sections Gr, each section containing a given number of fines, preferably four, which are soldered together, each having an opening on the outer end and in the center. The sectionsG are in like manner soldered together, so that the openings on the outside and inside occur at regular intervals spirally. The number and size of the dues and sections are regulated by the capacity of the machine or the number of burners to be supplied. To one end of the wheel 0 is attached an air-drum, H, which serves as a reservoir for carbureted air or gas, and from which said gas is discharged through the air or discharge pipeI into another drum, M, formed in the end of the cylinder B, and from thence into the gas-pipes for use. In order to aid in more thoroughly carbureting the air I insert through the cen ter of the wheel 0 a cylindrical wire-screen, J,

filled with sponge or other absorbent material, which, being constantly saturated with the gasoline, and the air being forced to pass through these absorbents, must of necessity become thoroughly carbureted. Heretofore, the center of the wheel being left open, the air simply passed over the top of the gasoline, and hence did notfurnish so rich a gas. This improvement increases the capacity of a machine twenty five or thirty per cent. The wheel 0 is made to revolve upon journals, not rigid, but so adjusted as to allow the wheel to oscillate slightly, in order that said journals may not bind in their bearings or boxes. It will be observed that the air or discharge pipe I is made to serve the purpose of a journal from the drum-end of the wheel. Heretofore the wheel was rigidly supported and revolved upon a shaft running entirely through the center, and the sections held together upon said shaft by means of nuts, &c. This mode has been found objectionable for several reasons and abandoned. The vertical air-inducting pipe D is adjusted on the top of the cylinder B, and should be from four to six feet high, in order that no vapor may escape therefrom. The vapor arising from gasoline being heavier than the atmosphere will notrise more than from two to four feet in the pipe according to the state of the atmosphere and gravity of the gasoline. In said pipe 1) is a valve or cock, 1, for the purpose of controlling or regulating the supply of air, as when too much air is supplied the gas becomes poor, emitting a blue flame. When such is the case the valve may be partially closed so as to supply the requisite amount of air. In order to strengthen the cylinder B I use a metallic form or spider, K, in each end of said cylinder, and to which the same is secured, forming also a firm bearing for the journals of the wheel G. The drum in the end of the cylinder B is a reservoir for the gas, and also receives any condensation that may occur. A cook, 0, is arranged in the bottom for the purpose of drawing off the same. A similar cock is attached to the bottom of the cylinder B for drawing off the gasoline from it when necessary so to do.

I know that a somewhat similar float has been constructed wherein mercury or other heavy liquid has been raised up to seal the end of the pipe 0, but it varies both with the temperature and with the height of fluid in the reservoir, and has therefore provenunreliable.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the feed-pipe a, the valve 01, the same being bushed with glass or its equivalent, and the valve-stem being metal, or vice versa.

2. In combination with the carbureting-cylinder B, operating as herein set forth, the floatchamber E, feed-pipe a, and equilibrium-pipes c, for supplying gasoline through the float-valve F to the chamber B, substantially as set forth, and for the purposes described.

3. The float F, in combination with the feedpipe to, when constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

4:. The wheel 0, composed of a series of fines, F, and sections Gr, and air-drum H, the whole combined and soldered together as herein set forth, and supported by and revolving upon journals I 'i, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and described.

5. The vertical air-inducting pipe D issuing from the top of and in combination with the cylinder B, and made sufficiently high to pre-- vent the escape of vapor, substantially as set forth.

JAMES H. VAN HOUTEN.

Witnesses OLIVER DRAKE, CHAS. Baron. 

